Hoof boots vs shoes

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Lemonpolo

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So I have to have my boys shoes off for his op this week. They have been off for just over a week and he has been out once in roads (walk only) and once round the fields barefoot. In this time he has chipped his hoofs (grrrrr).

Now I was considering leaving him barefoot but it looks like his hoofs can't cope with that when riding out. So it's either shoe again or try hoof boots.

There are a few on the market and I was wondering if anyone used them as I have a few questions.

Are they any good, how long for they last, and how good is the grip?

My boy has always been quite heavy on his shoes, so a bit worried that he will just trash them!

Thanks
 
Someone much more knowledgable will be along in a min im sure but I wouldn't worry about chips at all. Both of mine had chips fairly quickly after shoes were removed and I think it's just the foot wearing the excess hoof that isn't needed. Neither of them get chips now really, (Not a very scientific way of putting it!) as long as they are happy and landing heel first I wouldn't worry at all. Re boots I used cavello simples for my massive warmblood and cavello sports for my youngster- found both good value and easy to use. I just used them when needed, ie when they started feeling the ground. The simples have been used a lot over the past 18 months as my warmblood has found barefoot transition harder (several underlying issues) and I also used them to poultice boot for abscesses. They will probably need changing in a few months if I need to continue using them but although tatty they are still going!
 
RE the chips, it's perfectly normal for a fresh out of shoes horse to chip their hooves. Quite often they will chip up to the nail holes as that is a weakened area of horn. The big question is, 'is the horse sound?' You can feed for better horn quality (look up the BF diet) but remember that you will still have to grow the old horn out as any change in diet only effects the new growth.

Tarmac is great for unshod horses but do build up the distances slowly.

I've never used hoof boots but some on here have (Spookypony has used renegades IIRC) with great success.
 
I use hoofboots on mine if I am doing longer than usual rides or going on rough stones. I use Easyboot Epics which I like. He had really weak feet which broke up all the time when he was shod but now his feet are loads better and he is sound without his shoes on the roads.
Don't worry about the chipping the hooves will eventually grow down sound horn. If you buy hoofboots I think it is often more economical to start with looking to buy second hand at first as there are lots of part worn ones for sale. His feet will most likely change shape and size and it may also take you a couple of tries to get the boots that work best for you. If you do this and resell any that don't fit/work for you it doesn't need to be expensive. I did a trial with one set of boots I had and they lasted me about 700 miles.
 
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I have had a couple go barefoot for some months to improve their feet, and I find if you roll the edges they don't split so much. To work without shoes the feet seem to be better shorter, that way there is less leverage to pull the wall away from the white line.

I use easyboot gloves when I do more than a short ride out, it was £260 for all four, and they are wearing well so far.
 
The most important thing with boots is the right fit, so they stay on. There are many varieties that can be used for general hacking, such as the many kinds of Easyboot, the Old Macs, Cavallo, Equine Fusion, Renegade, etc. For performance (e.g. Endurance riding), most people that use boots tend to have either Easyboot Gloves or Renegades (or Renegade Vipers), but again, what's important is that it's the right fit for your horse. You can contact the hoofbootique.co.uk for advice; they're really helpful! :)

I use Renegades. My first pair are going into their 3rd season now, and starting to look worn. They are very easy to put on. The cable assembly can break after a while; it's pretty simple to replace, though preferably when the boot is dry and clean!
 
Agree with the others - with a bare hoof the emphasis needs to be on function not aesthetics.

I first used Old Mac G2s when my boy was fresh out of shoes because we needed to put pads in for comfort (vets wore the hoof flat to the already flat soles on a sand arena trying to find lameness) and his feet were a dodgy shape. Since then we've had Gloves. I put them on as a precaution last year because I wasn't sure if a reluctance to go forwards was footiness or something else - it was something else.

They do hold their value well and you can trial them so I'd recommend that approach if you aren't sure. Trial some to get the right size and make sure its the route you want to go down. Then try to buy second hand if you can for the first set - likely as the hooves change and adapt they will change size.
 
spookypony said:
You can contact the hoofbootique.co.uk for advice; they're really helpful! :)

I use Renegades. My first pair are going into their 3rd season now, and starting to look worn. They are very easy to put on. The cable assembly can break after a while; it's pretty simple to replace, though preferably when the boot is dry and clean!
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I too use renegates, going into the third with them. Replaced a cable on each once.
they are great, never rubbed, slipped, or come off. I go in all paces on all surfaces and I love them.

Don't worry too much about the chipping that is normal.
 
Wouldn't worry about the chips at all. Probably just means they are too long and he is sorting them out himself. If he is sound and not footy I would carry on as is. I occasionally run a rasp round any chips just to tidy them up but it only seems to happen at the start as I've not had any for a long time now.
 
I've used Cavallo Trek boots with success, but it is very important to get boots that suit the shape of your horse's hooves. The saddlery shop do a wide range and offer an advice service if you fill in their sizing form. Atlantic Equine offer a similar service.
 
I use G2 old macs, but if you want to go completely barefoot and have to transition correctly. Years ago I spent a fair bit of time leading in hand on Tarmac and byways, building up from 10 minutes a day (horse was turned out too of course) and within a few months we were hacking out as we had been with shoes. I'm sure someone hear will give you better advice than I can though.
 
Thank you all for the replies. This looks to be the mind field I thought it would be :(

The chips are quite big, one is about 3cm long and 1cm high. They are higher than the nail holes as he was due shoeing anyway (did not see the point in spending £70 to have them taken off 1 week later!). He has always been shod as he became footsore after being broken, he's only 6.

I have 2 weeks before he can be ridden again to get this sorted, and would really like to try the boots. Second hand sounds like a good idea, time for some internet searching :)

Thanks again everyone
 
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